(Five) Things To Do In Denver Before You're Dead

Get to the Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens, that is. Spread out over 23 acres and containing a head-spinning array of themed gardens – from the Victorian Secret Garden to the Dryland Mesa, from the Birds and Bees Walk to the Woodland Mosaic – this spot is one of Denver’s true treasures. If visiting in warm weather, head out in early evening. The air will have cooled a bit; the paths, which are mostly deserted, are all the more peaceful, and the quickening dusk serves only to enhance the magic.

Now through January 2011, the Denver Botanic Gardens is featuring Moore in the Gardens, a showcase of 20 of British sculptor Henry Moore’s colossal, elemental works. Seeing these pieces exhibited under an open sky, where Moore found inspiration, is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. From May through September, the Denver Botanic Gardens are open from 9 to 9; hours shorten in the winter months. Admission prices are $12.50 for adults; kids and seniors pay less.

Jazz It Up

There are few joints on the planet, much less in Denver, as cool as El Chapultepec, a beloved dive in LoDo that’s played host to such musical luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Tony Bennett. Drinks are cheap, there’s no cover, and when a band gets cookin’, the sheer, joyous energy of the place could light up the whole Front Range. With barely enough room for a handful of booths, a bar and a tiny stage, El Chapultepec fills up quickly, but what’s a little jostling when you’re hanging in Jack Kerouac’s old stomping grounds?

See DAM Fine Art

Like New York’s Guggenheim – or Bilbao, Spain’s Guggenheim – the Denver Art Museum’s pair of buildings are art in and of themselves. Specifically, DAM’s newest space, which opened in late 2006, is a mind-bending treat. Designed by Daniel Libeskind, this jagged, jutting structure is meant to recall the peaks of the nearby Rockies. Encased in 9,000 titanium panels, it dazzles – as does the collection inside. Highlights include a superb selection of Western American art, as well as one of the world’s finest collections of Native American art. Sadly, due to remodeling the latter is closed through the end of the year. However, King Tut’s visit to Dam will last through January, 2011.

Adult tickets for Tut are $30 on weekends; kids, seniors and weekday tickets prices are lower. General admission tickets are $13 for adults: kids and seniors pay less. DAM opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., though Thursday and Friday Tut stays open later. The museum is closed Monday.

Eat Any Fish You Wish

Great sushi in landlocked – really landlocked – Colorado?? It sounds like a joke, but Front Rangers know it can be found at Sushi Den . Soon to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Sushi Den is owned and operated by brothers Toshi and Yasu Kizaki; a secret to their success is third brother, Koichi, who lives in Japan and heads to the market in the wee hours each day to purchase the freshest fish available. His selections are immediately flown to Denver, arriving less than 24 hours later. The result is mouth-wateringly tasty, if not cheap: a la carte sushi starts at about $5 and veers up to $14. But the gracious service, elegant environs and superior sushi make this restaurant a must. Frommer’s agrees, too, calling it one of the best sushi restaurants in the country.

Hit Up The Hardball

Whether a fan of the Great American Pastime or not, a stop at the home of the Colorado Rockies is a must if visiting Denver anytime during the long, long LONG baseball season. Like some of the most cherished fields in the country (such as the splendidly throwback Wrigley, with its Bleacher Bums and never-to-be-beaten seventh inning stretch), Coors Field has seductions beyond its team – chiefly, the view beyond the scoreboard of the majestic Rocky Mountains. For added beauty, attend a night game and watch the sun set behind these ancient giants, turning them ever-darkening shades of purple.

Of course, for baseball enthusiasts little enticement is needed beyond the promise of watching Cy Young contender Ubaldo Jimenez hurl those lightning-quick strikes. Ticket prices vary greatly; club level infield seats, for example, against hated rivals the Boston Red Sox ran about $100 this season, while Rockpile bleacher seats for less-heralded match ups were offered at $4.